Arjun's POV
"Arjun...either she will handle this project or we are off." What the hell is he saying. I looked at Sunaina and she looked shocked as well.
"What do you mean Mr Singhania?" I still had to maintain my calm demeanor as I didn't want to lose this deal.
"Am I not understandable?" Karan raised his eyebrows and continued. "I want her to work in my project." What the hell! How can someone stand here and talk to my employee like this that too someone who has joined in and why her?! This is so weird. I don't understand but honestly I have to make sure that Sunaina doesn't join his project.
"Why her Mr Singhania?"
"It's either her or no one." His voice sounded bratty.
"I am sorry Mr Singhania, but that is not possible at the moment. Plus she is a new employee, she isn't a fit for your project." I was firm on my decision. Something about this guy felt so off and I didn't want Sunaina to be anywhere near him. Why is he so hell bent on taking Sunaina in his project?
"So you are not afraid of losing the deal?" I saw a smug smile pasted all over Karan's face. To be honest, he was triggering my dark side. I wanted to pick him up by his collar and throw him off outside my office. I looked at Mr Bharadwaj and Sunaina. Both of their faces had clear signs of confusion and helplessness. As a CEO, I never felt this much helpless. I can't even protect my own employees. I was confused thinking what to do when suddenly I heard Sunaina's firm voice.
"Mr Singhania, I am glad that you are thinking me to be competent enough to handle your project. But I am still a trainee. I still have a lot to learn and I feel that someone experienced can handle your project well." She was calm and composed as she clearly articulated her piece of mind to Karan. I saw the smile wiping off from Karan's face. That kind of brought a satisfaction inside of me. I was glad Sunaina spoke the necessary. Wait...why am I glad that Sunaina didn't take up the project. Why am I acting like an insecure kid? Why did I internally heaving a sigh of relief when Sunaina said that?
"I will still insist on working with you. I feel that you have the zeal to handle this project else this deal is off!" His words shocked me again. "I am willing to pay you back the compensation amount but that's it. That's my final decision." He was hell bent on what he wanted.
"Mr Singhania, please give us some time. We will give you an answer within two days." Mr Bharadwaj chimed in to my rescue.
"You better give me a positive answer." He smirked and left the room. I looked at Mr Bharadwaj with grateful eyes. He was always like this standing as my shield when I need it the most.
"Thank you." Was all I could say with a smile.
"Sir I think Sunaina should take up the project if Mr. Singhania wants it." I heard Sunaina gasping. Mr Bharadwaj ignored that and continued speaking,
"She might be new but now we can't afford to make such an important client angry." I couldn't help but agree to whatever he was saying. Right now we need him as much as he needs us. Maybe more but not less.
"Let me think about it for a while. You may go for now." I finally gave in. Mr Bharadwaj and Sunaina were both leaving the room when I called her back in.
"Ms Mehra, I need to talk to you. Please stay back." She turned towards me and I could see her eyes questioning me. Is it just me or her eyes remind me of the calm sea where I would wanna lose myself? Somehow being near her makes me wanna smile, laugh and enjoy. I thought I was void of these feelings but what Sunaina does to me? I don't understand.
"Sir is there anything you want?" Her soothing voice broke my reverie.
"Yeah...yeah...yeah." Does my vocabulary go dry when she comes in front of me?
"What is it sir?"
"Do you want to handle Karan's project?"
"Actually...I am not very comfortable around him." Her honest answer brought a smile on my face. "But...I don't want you to fall into trouble because of this. So I will take it up." My heart sank low.
"Didn't you say he looks like your ex? Do you really wanna work with him?" Just say a damn no Sunaina! It's not that hard.
"I will be silly if I mix my personal feelings in work. I have done such things before. I don't want to do that now." There was such big confidence in Sunaina's booming voice. Who would have thought this is the same girl whom I saved that day from the beach. I sometimes wonder now what exactly she was doing there?
"Sunaina I always wanted to ask you something."
"Yes go ahead."
"What were you doing near the beach that day? Why were you drowning?"
She didn't answer my question. I can see her figdeting with her fingers. Probably something she is not comfortable to talk about?
"I can't tell you that. I am sorry."
"Hmm...okay. I can understand." This ticked me off for a moment to be very honest. Somehow a part of me was screaming that she might have tried to kill herself that day due to this lookalike of Karan. The thought itself boiled my blood. If he wasn't my client, I wouldn't have let Sunaina go anywhere near this man. It was clear that her eyes were blinking back tears. I didn't want to hurt her anymore.
"Okay...so if you don't have any problem, we will send you off to Karan's project. You cubicle is ready and I can see that you have already got the welcome kit." She smiled at this.
"Welcome aboard Ms Mehra." I brought my hand in front of her and she shook it in return. After a few more discussions, I called Mr Bharadwaj in and let her go out. I hope she is able to adjust well. The rest of the day turned out to be more peaceful than I expected. I went round the office once or twice and found the senior managers to be impressed by Sunaina's working skills already.
"It's genius how she grasps everything so efficiently."
"I think she will progress a lot faster compared to other trainees." Whenever everyone was complimenting Sunaina's work, I felt a pang of pride well up inside of me. I don't know why is it happening with me but I have to admit that I don't hate this feeling either. The day got over faster than it usually does. I greeted everyone as they wished me good night while leaving their workplaces when my eyes fell on Sunaina. Her eyes glued to the machine. I smiled at her when I saw the locks of her hair fluttering on their own against her cheeks. That shirt of hers was making me weak in my knees. I don't know what charm does this girl have but it's definitely addictive in nature.
"Ms Mehra.."
"..."
"Ms Mehra..."
"..."
"Sunaina!" I shouted almost defeaning her ears.
"Sir yess sir!!!" She responded as if we are in an army camp.
"Let's go home. It's past working hours."
She gave me quick nod and we both went out of the office. I saw her leaving on the opposite side of mine. Curious I couldn't help but ask her.
"Where are you going?"
"Umm....towards the station. I will take an auto and go to your house." This answer made me angry. Not thinking about anything I caught hold of her hand and pulled her towards the garage.
"Hey! What the hell!" She snapped. "Leave me you buffoon."
I reached towards our car and opened the door immediately pushing her on the side seat.
"Now keep quiet." I said with fuming anger and got on the driver's seat.
"You don't have to do me such favours you know? I can go to your home alone too."
"I am sure you can but what's the point of not going in my car. We live in the same place right?" I intentionally had an undertone while replying to her. I clearly saw her blushing and trying to suppress her uneasiness. I never knew teasing her would give me such happiness. Finally she didn't resist the idea of returning home together anymore. I started off my engine and left the office parking lot in my car.
The initial fifteen minutes were very quiet. Either of us didn't say a single word, when suddenly Sunaina broke the silence.
"Thank you." Her voice was so tender yet humble.
"What for?" I asked turning my steering to the side.
"For everything..." I was taken aback. More than that, I was surprised.
"Everything?" I raised my eyebrows.
"You know. From saving me that day to giving me this job."
"I didn't do anything. You got what you deserved."I replied keeping my eyes on the road. Just then my phone began to ring. I looked at my screen and it displayed the name 'Mansi'. I pulled over the car at the side and picked up the call. It was set in speaker such that me and Sunaina can hear everything. Why did I do that? I don't know but I was curious about what Mansi has to say.
"Hey what's up?"
"Aruuuuuuuu.......you have to help me."
"Sure go ahead."
"Are you free now? If it's not okay, I will call later."
"Now bhabi, tell me."
"Aye brat! Since when did you call me Bhabi."
"Come to the point please na."
"Okay okay....what I mean to say is that." Mansi took a deep breath before she continued. "I wanna go on a date with your lovely bhaiya."
The word date nuzzled a pain in my chest. Somehow it hit me again that I can never have Mansi to myself again.
"Yeah so?" I was getting impatient. "What do you want me to do?"
"Can you convince him and your maa." Her voice was pleading me. I felt my heart breaking into a thousand pieces.
"Sorry bhabi..."
"Mansi." She corrected.
"Yeah...! Sorry Mansi but that's not possible for me."
"Aru!!! Please na. Please pretty please."
"No Mansi! It's your date why do you bother me!."
"But you are the only one I can count on."
"Look Mansi, you are married now. Please stop involving me in every matter of yours. We aren't kids anymore."
"What happened Aru? You never talked to me like this." Her voice showed a clear worry. "Is work bothering you that much?"
"No Mansi, it's not about that but I am your brother in law. Behave like one atleast." I couldn't take it anymore. I just couldn't! Why is god so cruel with me.
"Aru...I don't know why are you behaving like this. I am sorry if I have done anything wrong. I will cut the call then." With this the call got disconnected. Disappointed at myself, I kept my head resting on top of the steering wheel. I was tired. Tired of all this. One sided love hurts a lot and curses to people who say it's better than having two sided love.
"Do you....by any chance like Mansi?" I looked up only to find Sunaina looking at me. Her words shocked me. I thought that I will be able to hide my feelings from every other human but she caught me. She realised my pain and she caught me off guard. Her eyes- those same ocean locked eyes. I want to drown in them. I wanna drown in them bad.
Sunaina's POV
My doubt was right and his silence was proving it more and more. So the awkwardness that Arjun had towards Mansi was because he was in love with her? Did it have to be like this? The guy who my only dream man likes someone else? Someone I can never compare off. I looked back at Arjun again and this time, I was greeted by those sad eyes.
Please don't look at me like that. My heart knows better because it started beating for him vigorously when it felt his eyes. We were again engulfed by a silent wave. I can't see him suffering so much. I have loved him so much, how can I see him so sad? Was it ever his fault to deserve this? Was it mine? To remain unloved romantically all my life?
I looked back into him, the grief and sorrow were twinkling like stars inviting me to his large black holes, so I did what my heart asked. I placed my hand over his, trying to comfort him that everything will be alright, that he isn't the one getting tortured with the pathetic emotion called one-sided love.
Suddenly,Arjun pulled me in his embrace. He wrapped his arms around my back attaching me more on his chest. His heartbeat really knew no bounds this time. But was it just his heartbeat? No...mine somehow got intertwined with his as well, syncopated. As if our hearts were speaking each other words, we failed to uttered.
"Ar...jun." I was about to ask him to leave me when put his finger on my lips and signalled me to keep quiet. A strange emotion was playing in his eyes, that I couldn't decipher.
"Shhh...." He whispered,"Just for a while Sunaina. Please. Let me be here." I couldn't utter a word, just nodded in response.
He hugged me again, placing his forehead on my shoulder, his breathe was fanning down on my shoulder. Somehow my whole body was getting heated up by his touch. I couldn't say anything and let his breathes do the talking. I don't know for how long was he holding me close to him.
Now I feel even sadder for him. He actually even suffered more than I ever imagined. But my respect for him too increased, how many does have the heart to sacrifice their love for their lover's happiness? For their brother? My Hero Arjun can.
I slowly hugged him back, drawing circles on his back, he snuggled into my body some more. "Arjun, not everyone can do what you did, but you do know that you need to move on. Not for yourself, but for Mansi and your bhai?" He nodded still in my hug, so I tried to assure him, "Don't worry, you will get through this. But you need to do that together with Mansi. Don't ignore her, it will increase the tension in you, even more. Trust me, talk to her, talk with others, that will help you. Don't distance yourself from others."
He left me when his phone rang again. This time, it was from Gayathri Devi. He informed her that I was returning home with him and convinced her to allow Mansi to go to a date with Abhay as well.
In this heartbroken state too, he is caring about others. How much more do you plan to make me fall for you, huh, Arjun?
After he hung up, he looked at me with those needy eyes. I blushed hard and tried my best to put a smile in front of him but only I knew how much that hug has messed my entire mind, how much it left me yearning for him. How much it makes me want to run to his embrace again.
Preeti's POV
Life here is actually very good. Shawarma gets me anything and everything I ask for. I can study and do all the work very quickly without anyone interrupting me. The chapters get typed in the computer on its own and I think I do not need to worry about my gullu anymore. But one thing that I don't understand is that why is Arjun in love with Mansi? I never wrote that in my first book. But then again, this book has a brain of its own. I was thinking about all this, when suddenly someone from outside threw a stone inside my room. It shattered my room's entire window. In fear, I looked down only to see a man in black robe running away into the forest. Shawarma came running to me on hearing the noise.
"Milady! Are you fine?"
"Yes. I am don't worry. Please see who was it. I saw him going inside the forest."
"Ok milady..I am sending a search party there immediately."
With that being said, he left my room immediately. I calmed my nerves down and drank down an entire glass of water. My eyes fell on the stone that the culprit had thrown at me. On examining closely, I realised a paper was attached to it. I opened the page only to see the few words printed on it. It was enough to make my blood turn cold.
If you don't return to the place you came from, I will reveal it to your best friend that you are Ayu.
The choice is yours. Decide fast.
Time is ticking..
Yours,
Arjun's future killer.
Hey everyone!!!
Another chapter. How is it? I tried to add in a little bit of romance but I suck at it you know. Thank you for 500 likes and 170+ votes. Means a lot. Have a great year ahead of you. Love you all loads. Thank you PragyaDey for adding romance in my story. Tehehehehehe.
If there is anything you want me to improve go ahead. ❣️